SECT. XII. 



OF PR V KING. 



1ST 



More concerning luxuriant wood will be found in what 

 follows. 



All dijeajed, damaged, very weak, or worn out 

 branches (as they occur) fhould be cut out, to make 

 way for better ; but if a tree is generally difeafed, fome 

 caution mull be u fed not to cut out too much at once, 

 if there is any hope of reftoring it. A very old tree, 

 or a young one, that does not thrive, may be c.it 

 a great deal ; but prune it fo as to have a general 

 fprinkling of the belt of the branches, and keep fhort 

 lengths of an eye or two, of the weaker ones, in a fort 

 of alternate order. 



Young trees are very apt to decline, and fometimes 

 die, if fufferedto overbear themfelves the fir ft year or 

 two of fruiting: The remedy is obvious, and fhould 

 refolutely be applied. 



A weak tree i3 helped much by training it more 

 tre&ly than ufual, as lefs check is thus given to the lap* 

 and fo the (hoots are more likely to (well: fuch a tree 

 fhould be kept (bin of branches, and always pruned 

 early in autumn, keeping the top free from fuch wpoij 

 as is ftronger than that which is in general below, and 

 all the (hoots fhorter than ufual. 



Old decaying trees fhould be leflened a little every 

 year, and conllantly watched, to obferve where young 

 and ftrong (hoots are putting out below, in order to 

 cut down to them ; and though the time for doing this 

 is commonly at autumn or winter pruning, yet it may 

 be bed done in fummer, as the (hoots would thrive the 

 better ; obfervmg to put fome grading clay, or cow 

 dung, to the part, to prevent gumming, which fummer 

 pruning is apt to occafion. A judicious pruner may 

 bring the oldeft, and mod ill-conditioned tree, to a 

 healthy and bearing (fate, if all is but right at the root, 

 it having a good foil about it. 



Keep ajl wall trees tleatt, and particularly weak ones, 

 from mofs, cobwebs, or other filth; and attend to 

 infects, fnaiis, caterpillars, and fmother (lies. . Any bark 



that 



